Ronald Althouse
is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Survey Research Center at West Virginia
University. He also served as Chairperson of the Division of Sociology and Anthropology
from 1989 through 2001. He received an M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of
Minnesota. Dr. Althouse's research and publications have focused on worker's risk and worker's
health, dealt with statewide health care delivery, and assessed rural health systems. He
has extensive research and consulting experience in the mining industry including mine rescue
and recovery, mine management processes, as well as safety and miner health. His NIOSH published
study of occupational stress among underground coal miners remains a key research monograph on psycho-social
aspects of miners work relations and conditions in the United States. In addition to studies about
presentday conditions affecting the safety of underground coal workers, Dr. Althouse has written
about coal management's responsibilities for significantly improving mining operations and making
mines safer places to work. More recently, Dr. Althouse has contributed to the literature on athletic
participation, and is committed to efforts focused on social justice in sports. Collaborative research
on discrimination in sports has contributed to publication of highly regarded studies on racism in c
ollegiate athletics, particularly the African American athlete's experience.
As Director of WVUs Survey Research Center, he has consulted on an array of statewide problems
and university projects, covering issues as diverse as the well-being of West Virginia's children,
citizen expression of environmental risk, understanding vision health among the elderly, and changes
in the court=s responsibility for dealing with child abuse and neglect. Dr. Althouse's more than
two decades of experience ensures a broad range of contacts with the mining industry and health
care delivery organizations and provides knowledge of conditions affecting the well being and
participation of people in non-metropolitan areas and rural communities.
Contact Information
email: Ron.Althouse@mail.wvu.edu
telephone: (304) 293-5801 ext. 3203
office location: 306 Knapp Hall
Courses Taught
SocA 304 Complex Organizations
SocA 333 Work and Work Places
SocA 389 Writing in Soc/Anth
SocA 401 Sociological Theory
SocA 511 Survey Research Methods
SocA 522 Constructing Sociological Theory
Vita (pdf)
